Clasp



P 25, 1934- J. F. ALLISON 1,974,765

CLASP Filed Nov. 11, 1933 I N VEN TOR.

W flu Mm, w ,9, A TTORNEYS.

' of a collar as being inserted therein and the rela- Patented ept. 25, 1934 rArsnr orrics umrso STATES CLASP James F. Allison, Brovidence, R. L, assignor to Freeman-Daughaday Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 6 Claims. This invention relates to a clasp such as is used for collar or tie holders; and has for one of its objects the provision of a clasp which may be readily moved into grippingposition by the insertion of fabric betweenits jaws and yet one which wardly or outwardly of the jaws for freer or tighter gripping or" thefabric as desired. Another object of the invention is theprovision of a member which may be rotated about the jaws axially thereof to present different points of grippin engagement and distribute the wear upon the same. I

Another object of the invention is'the provision of a slide member which is generally symmetrically formed with a transverse groove centrally thereof to prcsent spaced'gripping points and a relatively free oint between these two points permitting the fabric to enlarge in this groove to ac centuate the spaced gripping point on either side thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clasp in which the relatively slidable mem-' ber may be mounted thereon and the abutments formed by deflecting portions of the stock thereof to prevent withdrawal of the slide.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my clasp shown as embodied in a collar holder.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating the edges tive positions of the members at this time.

Fig. 5 shows the fabric as being withdrawn from the collar holder and the relative positions of the slide members thereon.

Fig. 6 shows the rear bar and slides in one of the steps of their assembly.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing a further step in the assembly and showing the slide members in section.

11.1933, Serial No. 697,574

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the slide mem-v ber in section. Fig. 9 is a side elevation illustrating the clasp as, used for a tie holder.

In the use of tie and collar holders, it is desirablethat gripping jaws slide over the portions which they. are to grip more or less freely, while preventing a too free movement of the fabric from its position between them, and in order to provide a clasp of such construction, I haveprovided a slide member which is rotatable for verticaladjustment and also to prevent different surfaces for engagement and which is grooved so as to provide a better grip on the fabric whereby it will bemoved outwardly when the fabric is to be withdrawn and will be moved inwardly when the fabric is inserted. This slide is arranged on an angular portion so that as the slide moves outwardly it moves towards the front jaw to increase the gripping action on the fabricyand the fol- 'T lowing is a more detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageousresults may be accomplished: I

With reference to the drawingl have illus trated the clasp as embodied in a collar holder inFigs. 1 to 8, in which 10 designates thebar forming the front jaw, which is suitably shaped as by bending at 11 towards the bar forming a rear jaw 12 to be held in the desired position by a sleeve 13 embracing these bars and dividing the structure into oppositely disposed pairs of jaws.

This front jaw may take the form of any suitable design, such as the ornamental configuration 14 on the end thereof, which is bent outwardly for easy entrance of the fabric between the jaws. The back jaw 12 is provided with a slide 15 which is generally in the shape of a ball with a bore extending thru its center and is slidably mounted upon the rounded portion 16 of the jaw 12, which portion 16 is inclined towards the front jaw 10 so that as the slide moves towards the free end of the jaw, it will move towards the front jaw or will flex the front jaw or rear jaw so as to place greater tension on them, or any sheet between them, when moved outwardly thereon, whereas when the slide is moved inwardly the reverse is true and lesser or no pressure will be applied to any part between these jaws 10 and 12.

The ends of the jaws 10 and 12 are flared outwardly, the jaw 10 being bent at its ends as at 14, while the jaw 12 is bent outwardly as at 26 to provide a mouth 17 to assist in positioning the fabric for insertion between the gripping portions of the jaws. This fabric will engage and carry inwardly the slide 15 when inserted to relieve the pressure during the time insertion takes place. However, as the fabric is moved outwardly, the slide will be moved outwardly to increase the gripping pressure thereon.

In order that the fabric may be better engaged for moving this slide inwardly and outwardly, I have provided a groove 18 in the ball slide extending transversely thereof so as to provide spaced gripping surfaces 19 and 20 and leaving a free portion between these gripping surfaces into which a portion 21 of the fabric being free may expand to: corrugate and enable the gripping action of the parts to be increased.

In order that this ball slide will be limited in its action, I provide abutments 22 at one side and 23 at the other, the abutments 22 being formed at the point of bending the end 26 of the rear jaw which, itself, will limit the movement of the slide along the portion 16. The slide 15 is provided with a circular axial opening which is mounted upon a rounded portion 24 on the wire of the back jaw, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The portion 25 of this wire being flattened to provide an abutment 23. After the slide 15 is positioned on the back jaw of this formation (Fig. 6) the end 27 is then flattened to provide the abutment 22 or the bend 26 may accomplish this to prevent removal of the slide 15 from this mounted position. After these operations are performed, the two jaws 10 and 12 are assembled with the sleeve 13 to provide a collar holder, as shown in Fig. 1.

In the case of a tie holder, the jaws 29 and 30 formed from one piece of stock may be joined together by a bend of the stock 28, there being in this case two jaws instead of oppositely opposed jaws provided for the collar holder.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being clefined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, a portion of one jaw converging towards the other jaw as it proceeds towards its free end, a slide member mounted upon said portion to grip a piece of fabric between said jaws and be moved thereby as the slide member is moved towards the free end of the jaw, said slide having a transverse groove in it forming spaced points of engagement with the fabric.

2. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, a portion of one jaw converging towards the other jaw as it proceeds towards its free end, a ball-shaped slide member mounted upon said portion to increase its gripping action upon a piece of fabric between said jaws and be moved thereby as the slide member is moved towards the free end of the jaw, said slide having a groove about it transversely to its sliding axis.

3. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, a portion of one jaw extending at an angle to the other jaw, a slide member mounted upon said portion and enlarged at its central portion to grip a piece of fabric between it and the opposite jaw, the amount of grip depending upon the position of said member along said portion, and abutments provided to limit the movement of said slide member along said jaw, the stock of the jaw on which said slide member is mounted being round and said stock being flattened at either side of said member to provide abutments to limit the movement of said member.

4. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, a member axially slidable on one jaw, said member being rotatable about the axis along which it slides.

5. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, one of the jaws being a cylindrical portion forming an axis, a member rotatable on said axis and also slidable therealong, said member having a surface to engage a sheet of material positioned between said aws.

6. A clasp comprising a pair of jaws, one of the jaws being a cylindrical portion forming an axis, 

